Recognizing you have significant struggles with your mental health is often a relief to admit. For many who are struggling with mental health challenges, this is an ideal starting point. The reality is coming to this conclusion is rarely this clean and convenient.
A person who struggles with clinically diagnosed mental health issues and does not receive professional support can be expected to die 10 years earlier. (Journal of the American Medical Association, Psychiatry 2015) Simply finding a good counselor can add ten years back onto your life or the life of a loved one.
We all know at least one or two people who have suffered from mental health challenges – friends and family, co-workers, neighbors – some with permanent consequences because they didn’t get the support they needed. How much different would life look like if they connected with a great counselor?
The heartbreaking reality is that the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent isolation caused mental health issues to skyrocket during 2020 and well into 2021. The number of adults reporting increased levels of anxiety and depression nearly quadrupled from late 2019 to early 2021, primarily due to the pandemic, economic uncertainty, political upheaval, and disruption in our social circles. (National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS))
Anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, substance abuse, eating disorders, clinically defined OCD, PTSD, bipolar, manic-depression – these are just a few of the many faces of mental illness. Mental health challenges can be the darkest of situations, but these are daily battles we were never meant to fight alone.
If you or someone you love is struggling with their mental health, you need to find a Gospel-driven, licensed, and experienced counselor who can guide the journey towards hope again. The challenge is knowing how to find a counselor to help with mental health issues, no matter how they may be manifesting right now.
There are several key details to keep in mind when finding a mental health counselor to walk with you on your journey. One caveat to always keep in mind is that the first counselor you meet on this journey is often not the best fit. Many times that can be true, but be prepared that you may have to interview multiple counselors to find the right one for you and your situation.
Never stop looking until you find the right fit.
One of the strongest steps you may ever take in your mental health journey is actively seeking a good therapist. The good news is there’s no shortage of licensed counselors and therapists who are helping countless people across your community. What’s important is finding a counselor who is the right fit for your situation, specifically whatever you may be facing when it comes to your mental health.
Not all mental health professionals are created equal. There are three key factors you need to keep in mind during your search for a great counselor.
Expertise: Is mental health counseling their primary focus or only part of their skillset?
If you were in a car accident and suffering from a traumatic brain injury, would you rather an ER doctor or a neurosurgeon perform the necessary surgery? Of course, you would choose the neurosurgeon, the specialist, to do the delicate work of healing your brain. The same care and attention must be given to your mind.
While many great counselors are empathetic, available, and affordable, it’s worth finding a counselor who specializes in counseling for mental health challenges. The types of therapy or type of treatment you may need are vital to consider. As an example, if you struggle with anxiety or depression, look for a counselor who specializes in treating both. Anxiety and depression often walk hand in hand, and a specialist can often easily discern when one or the other challenge may start manifesting itself.
Experience: Do they have the track record or are they still new to addressing mental health challenges?
Whether you’re in conversations with a marriage and family therapist, one of your child’s school counselors, a social worker, or a counselor who’s in private practice, their experience is crucial to your future success. While a newer counselor may focus on mental health challenges, it’s worth asking them about their previous experience with people who have similar struggles as you.
Find a therapist who can speak to your specific situation with previous stories (without revealing confidential information, of course. If they can only speak to theoretical situations or textbook-only examples, they may not have the experience you need.
Education: Do they have the appropriate licensure, degrees, certificates, or other credentials you need to know they can sufficiently support your mental health challenges?
One of the best signs of a great counselor is their commitment to lifelong learning as a licensed professional. It’s essential to note that there are varying levels of professional credibility and care that are directly related to a mental health professional’s education. There are countless different types of therapists, so how do you know which type is best for you?
As one example, most licensed mental health counselors are not legally allowed to prescribe medication. Only psychiatrists are licensed to prescribe medications for mental health challenges – an expectation that you must be aware of when searching for the right counselor.
A solid degree that many of the best counselors have is a Master’s Degree in Counseling or MAC as it’s often referred to in the counseling profession. However, a good degree never guarantees someone is a good counselor. You will also want to check their credentials to see what associations, boards, or regulated organizations provided that counselor’s professional licenses or certificates.
Some of the most popular professional organizations and associations for providing licensure to mental health professionals include:
- The National Christian Counselors Association (NCCA)
- The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
- The American Psychological Association (APA)
- The Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB)
- The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
- The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards
Additional licenses may be listed that are with less well-known or even newer professional associations. Of course, that isn’t necessarily a caution, but it’s worth doing your due diligence ahead of time.
Connect with a faith-based, Gospel-driven counselor, not just anyone with a license.
Your primary care physician may be able to help make a referral. Also, our pastoral staff has already connected with and vetted a list of Christian counselors who can help you take the next step in your journey. We encourage you to try out a few therapy sessions. If cost is an issue, many health insurance providers offer support by covering professional mental health support.
What’s more important than any counseling session is the truth of who Jesus is and how God wired you for this messy adventure called life. Life can be unbearably difficult, but it doesn’t have to be that way. The redeeming work of Jesus our Savior is what allows us to see hope and light in this life.
Wherever you are when it comes to believing who Jesus is, what we want you to know is that Jesus loves you so much. He knows what it’s like to feel abandoned, lonely, betrayed by those closest to Him, confused and afraid about what may come next, and sad to such an extent that His body experienced clinical anxiety and panic.
He said “Yes!” to all of that out of love for you – and He’s already carried whatever burden you’re suffering under right now with Him to the cross. No, you may not be fully free from struggling with your mental health in this life, but the message of hope in Jesus is where you will find the greatest freedom the world will ever know.
If you’re ready to talk more about how Jesus can give you hope, reach out to our pastoral team. We would love to share more with you today.